The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

At least that’s what regional council agreed should be its aim last week, after debating part of the afternoon as to whom Should be the final arbiter in such things: council or the ad- ministration. Dog saves man’s life Dozens of students from Ross Doan School, Hillcrest Mall Friday to take part in a children sing, Anne Leyton-Brown plays the Weldrick Road, Richmond Hill, were at Remembrance Day ceremony. While the guitar. Taxpayers in York Region will face a increase next year, but it will be a “zero increase. “ Richmond Hill fire fighters arrived quickly and thanks to the dog’s early warning were able to keep damage to an estimated $1.000. The fire was blamed. on a fireplace fault in which combustible insulation was installed too close to heat, Fire Chief Robert Kennedy said. Patrick Murphy of 114 Oak Avenue was awakened by his dog at 5:30 am. Friday as a‘fire burned in the wall around a fireplace. York planning zero tax in crease A Richmond Hill resident’s dog saved him from a possible fire death last week. Mayor David Schiller said it was unlikely the committee would complete the task yesterday, and next Tuesday has been set aside to continue the discussions. About a dozen residents were on hand yesterday to comment on and par- ticipate in the discussions. “Any corrections should be made this week and copies may be available next week," Mayor Schiller said. Richmond Hill Council, working as a planning committee, began the onerous task yesterday of wading through 180 pages of a proposed draft of the town's new official plan. At press lithe, the committee was still hard at it. Yesterday‘s meeting was held at the Richmond Hill Public Library. Official plan meetings get underway The community of Richmond Hill once had a very strong and viable Jaycee unit until a few years ago when it folded. But it may be on its way back. On Saturday. November 26. the Canada Jaycees â€" Central Region â€" are planning a door to door campaign throughout the town and will charter a new Richmond Hill Jaycee unit. Any past members of the old unit still residing in the area. who would be interested in seeing a few “old buddies" are invited to attend the first introduction meeting. Satur- day. November 26 at the Richvale Community Centre. For further information. call Larry Bryan, National Vice- President at 599-1225. The meeting gets underway at 4 pm. to reâ€"form Jaycees here Group hopes islahlished 187 Richmond Hill Edition The letter, which. wiped out a motion by Councillor Lois Hancey of Richmond Hill, and Mayor Bob Forhan of Newmarket, stated that the Region was looking for “an effective zero increase, as was essentially acc0mplished in 1977.” “To do this will require that all departments work on a maximum four per cent increase over 1977 estimates,“ the letter stated. When the last volley had subsided. it was decided that a plan of attack, as contained in a letter to regional department heads from chief ad- ministrative officer, Jack Rettie, and treasurer, John Hlynski, was the one they should abide by for the time being. It added that, where departmental expenditures were directly subsidized by the province and where the latter has already advised of the maximum increase permitted on such accounts. “the lesser of four percent, or the provincial increase should be used in setting budgets." And just what is a “zero increase"? Apparently, it’s the same as a zero decrease. In other words, it is hoped things will remain the same. “The department heads know what we mean, anyway" Hylinski told The Liberal‘after the meeting. He said that. with an increase in assessment and revenue this year, they were looking for the same average mill rate on area municipalities. “If we levied five mills this year. we’re hoping for the same thing next year,” he said. “We know there are additional revenues... “We don’t want to increase taxes to the individual taxpayer.” While acknowledging the letter had “essentially the same objectives” as the Hancey-Forhan motion. council was “It’s a kind of a rat’s nest. We’ll see what we come up with." That‘s what Alf Stong (L-York Centre) told this newspaper yesterday after asking questions in the provincial legislature about the Ontario Municipal Board (0MB) Vaughan theme park hearing being held in Maple. After questioning Attorney-General Roy McMurtry in the house, MLA Stong said he is going to have to ask some questions of another minister before he gets the answers he wants. Stong still wants to know why the OMB hearing was hurried up while the cabinet was holding a Maple ratepayer application for an Environment Assessment Board hearing.- The local MLA said he knows the environment hearing application reached the cabinet at about the same time the attorney-general asked the OMB to speed up completion of the theme park hearing. Maple park hearing “rat’s nest” - Stong “Thei'e’s a lot of politics being played in this thing. It’s hard to find out," said Stong. Stong's questions and Attorney- General McMurtry’s answers in the legislature Monday afternoon were as follows: Stong: “What influence did you exert in having the OMB hearing the Maple amusement park issue set its time of sittings to meet the convenience of the developers even as far as sitting on November 11, Remembrance Day? A} press time, final summation and argument were expected to start at any moment. In {he meantime, the OMB hearing at Maple is nearing an end. Wednesday, November 16, 1977 t Lihmtl ”/n Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, in all things Charity” i1! somewhat perturbed that nothing had beenrsaid about it until the meeting.” Mrs. Hancey said she felt the internal memo was “applaudable. But no one saw fit to advise me of it'L maybe there was no need far it. ” Mr. Rettiesaid there had been no intention “to usurp the power of council. I wasn’t aware that a resolution was to be introduced . . . I think the intent is the same.“ “We were not aware of the letteY‘.“ Mayor Forhan said. I “I asked council for direction sometime before and was told to wait until McKeough (provincial treasurer, Darcy McKeough) made an an- nouncement in Barrie.“ Mrs. Hancey said. “So Mayor Forhan and I drew this up.“ Councillor Hancey said that “‘it never entered our minds” to decrease ser- vices, or lay off regional staff. The latter was suggested earlier by Markham’s Ron Moran. Mayor George Timpson of Aurora, called the motion “redundant” and suggested council endorse the Census figures released yesterday for York Region show Richmond Hill with a population of 35,150, an increase of 1,800 over the past five years. That puts the Hill second to the Town Up 1,800 in 5 years “Could you indicate to this house what private individuals’ applications (to the OMB) had to be deferred because of the preferential treatment the developers of this park have received?” McMurtry: “I don‘t know what the OMB has done in relation to this hearing. A firm of solicitors have communicated their concern to me, to the effect that a month had been set aside for this hearing and then part way into the hearing, as I recall, they were advised that the time available would be two weeks and not a month which would be required to complete the hearing." “I simply passed that concern, not directly but through my office, on to the OMB." Stong: “I wonder if the attorney- general could account for the rapidity with which these hearings have progressed, particularly in view of the fact the OMB refused to delay its hearing pending an application under the Environmental Assessment Act, of which notice was given two weeks prior to commencement of the OMB hearings?“ That ended the Stong-McMurtry exchange in the house. McMurtry: “I have no information about the progress of this matter through the hearing. I wasn‘t even aware that it was being heard by the OMB until this firm‘ of solicitors communicated their concern to the effect, as I‘ve already said, that originally a month had been set aside and the time had been abrogated" stands at 35, 750 Hill’s population 60 pages proposals of the Letter instead _ Mr. Rettie said he didn’t see any conflict. “1 think we’re within the guidelines, except for the freeze}: Said Mayor Dave Schiller of Rich- mond Hi1]: “If we’re trying to keep taxes down, zero increase sounds pretty darn good to me." TwS suggested amendments by Mrs. Hancey were lost. The first called for a communication boards and com guidelines. to go to all regional missions to follow all The second called for gross ex- penditure increases of no more than six per cent over the 1977 actual. “or four per cent over the 1977 budget, whichever is less." Carla Parente of Neighborly Lane, Richmond Hill. and her children, Tavio, 3. and Nadia, two months, were pronounced dead on arrival in hospital, after the car in which they were driving was in collision with a truck, on Bayview Avenue, just north of Highway “We know exactly where we’re going at four percent; we don’t know at six per cent," said Newmarket’s Ray Twinney. Markham, however, is not only leading, but shows a mammoth jump from 47,575 in 1973, to its present figure of 59,204, for a gain of 13,629. of Markham in over-all population figures for the region; Thé wan of Vaughan now stands at 18,308, compared with 15,977 in 1973, for an increase of 2,331. He then proposed that the staff letter be “adopted for guidelines,” and the motion was carried. “I wonder if the C.A.0.’s (chief ad- ministrative officer) going to bring any more news to us,” said Mayor Forhan. “Maybe he could let us know.” It is fourth in population figures behind Newmarket, which has 24,771 people! up 3,1728roverA the_sarrle period. - Tbta] fiopulation for the Region is 208,701, compared with 182,596 in 19733. Richmond-Hill‘s population is made up of 17,672 males and 17,478 females, giving the men a slight lead of 194: V PuBIic school sufiporters number 29,088, while separate school supporters total 6,062. ' A charge of dangerous driving has been added to the two other charges against Domenico Minniti of Scarboro, in connection with a traffic accident last week in Thornhill, which took the life of a 27-year-old Richmond Hill mother and her two young children. 'Vaughan’s population is made up of 9,337 men and 8,971 women, giving the men an extra 366 in numbers. In Markham, however, the women outnumber the men if only by 262. Highest age group is in the 21 to 25 bracket. at 2,940. Right behind are two groups, 26 to 30 at 2,843, and 46 to 50 at 2,841. Trial date is set for man charged in 3â€"death smash Price 20 cents The event: which has been happening for about a dozen years, honors people of thecommunity. Residents whe serve on town com- mittees will receive citations for their efforts, as will three volunteer agen- oies. Richmond Hill will honor its citizens on Friday Nearly 200 people are expected to be on hand this Friday as the Town of Richmond Hill holds its annual “awards night." Sears’ $$ donation swells United Way It has also been hampered by a shortage of volunteers to cover the The campaign to reach $400,000 has been extended to the end of the month and a lot of places where fund raising is going on have not reported yet, says campaign director Bob Higgs. The York Region United Way does not know what the donations will be as “we did not have time" to set up a system for up-to-the-minute reporting from the field, Higgs said. About $3,000 in pledges in Monday's mail brought this year’s donations to $163,525. These include Texas IhEtruments, Dow Pharmaceuticals and Ramsey REC Ltd. in Richmond Hill. A $3,500 donation from the employees of the Sears store in Richmond Hill gave a boost to the York Region United Way last week. Under c6nditions of his bail, he is prohibited from driving until his trial, angi his gasspoijt is being held. Judge Busâ€"sell Pearse Eet April 4 as the date for Minniti’s trial when he appeared before him Monday morning. Bayview Secondary School Minniti, who is out on $4,000 bail, also faces charges of criminal negligence and leaving the scene of an accident. Witnesses said that the Parente vehicle skidded into the south-bound lane and the path of the truck, after being cut off by another vehicle. 7, about noon, November 7 The Good Brothers of Richmond Hill Really. everything is quite normal at the library. It‘s just a test. Library staff members are trying out their costumes for their “Alice In Wonderland" float in this Sun- day's Santa Claus Parade. See, there's an explanation for everything ..... It‘s the Santa Claus Parade, beginning from Bayview Secondary School at 1.30 pm. Sunday, heading south to Markham Road, west to Yonge Street and north to the Rich mond Heights Plaza. The map to the right shows the way. Some 50 entries will participate in the parade, including a few top- flight bands. They include the 48th Highlands Pipe Band and Brass Band; the 90- member Seneca Optimist Drum and Bugle Corps; the Toronto Scottish Pipe Band; and the Royal Regiment Brass Band. Santa Sunday happens this weekend. And months of planning. arranging and organizing will culminate with one of the larger parades to be seen on Richmond Hill streets. Buses will operate from the Oak Ridges Public School in the north and the Langstaff Sideroad in the south. See editorial, Page A-4. Special for people living to the north and south of the parade route is the “Santa Express”, a free bus service along Yonge Street. And try. please. not to be too startled if a little white rabbit, wearing a check jacket and sporting an umbrella scurries from behind the enquiry desk to find the answer to your question in the reference books. Don't be too surprised if, on your next visit to the Richmond Hill Public Library, a playing card or a tree in full leaf, marks out your books or types up a new membership card. Richmond Heights Plaza Everything ’3 normal Santa Sunday Bayview Ave. Yonge Street Two special awards will be made to people who have achieved a great number of things over a number of years, and six sports awards will be given to people who have achieved a provincial or higher standing. whole region. Last year, the United Way brought in $168,773 of its $250,000 goal. will be honored Friday, and Harry Sayers, who has received a high honor from St. John Ambulance, will also be acknowledged by the Town. The event takés place at me Summit Golf and Country Club Yonge Street. Bonnie Wilson of Bayview Avenue, a Sears employee, holds $3.500 cheque representing Sears em- ployees donation to the United Way of York Region. With more than $163,000 in so far. the campaign has been extended to the end of the month in an effort to reach the $400,000 goal. 77" ‘ , E: .駧.9 ‘4’)» A